Brick-marking machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. ENNIS.

BRICK MARKING MACHINE.

1 on W N Am E M M L A m Z W (No Model!) 3' Shets-Sheet :2.

J E. ENNIS.

BRICK MARKING MACHINE.

N0. 483,910. Patented Oct. 4, 1892..

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J. E. ENNIS.

- BRICK MARKING MACHINE. No. 483,910. Patented Oct. 4,1892.

ATTORNEYS one of the inking devices.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEc JOHN E. ENNIS, OF DULUTH,-MINNESOTA.

BRICK-MARKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,910, dated October 4, 1892. Application filed October 29, 1891. Serial No. 410,296- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. ENNIS, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and described in the specification and particu-.

larly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, in whichv I Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of my improvement. Fig. 2 1s a front sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross'section of the same on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1.

In the practical method of laying bricks 1t is very essential, especially in fine press-brlck work, that the bricks are properly gaged, so that the mason can produce a finished job in which the struck joints are all uniform and even. To this end it is usual for the helper to measure the bricks and then mark them to indicate their thickness. This method of sorting the bricks is both slow and unreliable, as the measuring is usually done by unintelligent persons, to whom the necesslty of exactness of measurement is not always apparent. Furthermore, it is not usual to mark the bricks to indicate their v length, which causes the mason in laying them a great deal of trouble in fitting or matching them so as to make a straight joint.

My improved device is intended to provide means whereby the operation of marking can be rendered speedy and regular and whereby the thickness, as well as the length, will be 1ndicated thereon, and, furthermore, it also provides for making a special mark at any point on one of its faces, which indicates the point at which they need be out when it is desired to provide for a number of short brleks to fill in any given points in the wall or pier.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

A indicates a suitable base-frame, on which are pivotally mounted the end standards 13 B, in which is 'journaled a rock-shaft 0, upon which near the standards B B are loosely mounted the rocking frames D, the outer faces 01 of which are segmental, but arranged eccentric to the shaft 0, for a purpose presently explained. The lower ends of the frames D are projected horizontally inward, as at d, and form bearings for rollers d Such frames have also inwardly-projecting diago nally-disposed flanges or cam-faces D, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, such frames being held to their upper or normal positions by the springs D D as shown. frames E are fixedly secured to the shaft, which are adapted to be swung inward and to rock on the shaft 0 for a purpose hereinafter stated, such shaft being held to its normal position by means of spring O (See Fig. 1.) These plates E are formed with open portions E and with lock-notches 6, into which lock-bolts F are normally projected and which serve to hold such plates E and the shaft from rocking while they engage the said notches. The lock-bolts F consist of -lateral projections on the upper end of angular arms F,-jou rnaled atfbetween lugs f'f on the base A, the rearwardly-extending members f bearing on springs f which serve to normally throw the pivoted angular arms to their locked position.

G G G indicate a series of marking-rollers located between frames E, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1, and such rollers are journaled each in aframeg, journaled at its lower forward end in the brackets a? a and each of such frames 9 is formed with an ink cup or pocket 9, with which connects a feed-channel g which extends up under the inkingrollers in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and to provide for feeding the ink to such rollers each of the ink-pockets is internally threaded at its upper end, into which fit threaded plugs g which as the ink is used up are screwed down into the pockets and serve to force the ink therein up to the rollers. Extended rearward from the pockets g are horizontal arms 9 the outer apertured ends of which fit over vertical exten: sions a on the base, the upper ends of which Adjacent the frames D segmental ICC 1 end plate H and its inking-roller I term the end-marking devices,.as they are employed to mark the ends of the bricks. The base of such plate has an elongated slot h, through which the pivot-bolt it passes, as shown. By this construction, when desired, the plate H can be swung around to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position it -will serve to mark the end of the outer side or face of the brick.

J indicates a plate secured to the baseframeA at a point opposite and in front of the roller-frames g, which is formed with the vertical end frames J, the inner faces of which are recessed longitudinally at j, in which is journaled a series of guide-rollersj.

J 2 J 3 indicate a pair of parallel-arranged shafts, one of which J is held between the frames J, while the shaft J 3 is held between the short'bearing j, as shown. Upon these shafts J 2 J held to be moved longitudinally, is an inking-roller and frame K, which roller is arranged to be set at any point desired on the shafts J J so as to mark all the bricks at any given point.

At the end of the base A, at a point opposite the end-marking rollers H H H is secured a frame L, formed with a vertical member having its inner face recessed, in which is journaled a number of guide-rollers Z Z.

When the rollers G G G are adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 12'. e., the roller G2 projecting beyond the roller G and the roller G beyond the roller G-and the end rollers H H H adjusted in a similar manner, the device will then be ready for marking. It should be stated, however, that the relative arrangement of the end guide-rollers l, the side guide-rollers J, the central inking-roller G, and the first end roller H is such that a brick of the average length and thickness will just fit between them. The frames D, which are loosely journaled on the shaft 0, and the rock-frames E, which are fixedly secured thereto, are constructed in the manner before described to operate to insure the brick entering between the inking-rollers in a horizontal position, whereby its true measurement will at all times be assured.

To use the device, the operator grasps the brick lengthwise and uses the end and side rollers Z and J as his guide forces the brick downward, and in doing so should the brick be entered in a diagonally-inclined position its lowest end would engage one of the rollers d on the frame, which would rock such frame on the shaft until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 5, and as such frame is brought to the said position in the manner stated its flange member will engage the lock-bolt F and force it and its supportingframe F back to the position shown in said Fig. 5, and thereby unlock the rock-frame E from the frame D. At this time the lower edge of the brick will come in engagement with the frame E, (see dotted lines in Fig. 5,) and as such frame is rigidly connected with the shaft 0 and as the opposite frame D has not been operated or engaged by the brick to unlock the opposite frame E it (the brick) is held from furtherdownward movementat such end, and as the opposite end is brought down it will engage the opposite frame D in a similar manner until its lower end depresses it to the same horizontal plane as the opposite frame D. At this time both of the frames D and E- will be disengaged, and the brick, now engaging the frames E, will, as it is further depressed, rock such frames and the shaft 0 downward to permit the brick engaging the.

rollers in a reverse direction, which then mark the brick according to its shape. It'- will be noticed that by adjusting the inking-rollers in the manner stated shoulda brick of less than the average thickness be inserted the roller G will engage its side and make a single mark, should its thickness be the average both the rollers G and G will engage it and make two marks, or should the brick be more than the average thickness all three of the rollers G G G will engage it and leave three marks. It will be also noticed that should a brick be of less than the average length the roller H will engage and mark the end of the brick, if of average length both rollers H and H will mark it, and if greater than the average the three rollers H H H will engage it.

It is sometimes very necessary in building that a number of bricks be shortsay six inches in length-to fill in at given points in the wall. To this end the rollerK can be adjusted on the shafts J J to make a single mark at the point desired on the face of the brick. Thus itwill be seen that each brick will be marked to indicate its thickness, its length, and to indicate where to cut for the standard short brick required in the work.

In some instances, especially so in pierwork, where it is frequently necessary to run courses of short or long bricks and where it is also frequently required to cut ofi the end of abrick one-half to one and a half inches, I adjust the end-marking devices to mark the sides of the brick at the outer ends. In this case the rollers H H H can have their marking-faces in the same plane, as the first roller will serve to mark the short, the second the average, and the third the longer brick, such marks being arranged to indicate half-inches. The advantages of my improved marking devices will be readily understood from the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings. Its uses will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art of building.

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1-. Abrick-marking machine comprising side and end guides for guiding one end of the brick and movable guides for the opposite end of the brick, said guides carrying marking devices adapted to simultaneously mark the end and side of the brick, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A brick-marking machine having fixed end guides and marking devices arranged to engage the face of the brick and adapted to be set relatively to the fixed end guides, whereby to mark the face of the brick at a given point on its face, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. Abrick-marking machine comprisingend and side guides and marking-rollers having their markingfaces arranged in different planes, whereby to be set in marking position to engage bricks of different thicknesses, as and for the purpose described.

4. In a brick-marking machine, the combination, with the side and end guides and the base, of a marking device adjustably held on the base and adapted to be set to mark the face or end of the brick, as and for the purpose described.

5. In a brick-marking machine, the combination, with the guideways and the marking devices arranged as shown, whereby to form a pocket-like portion, of restraining devices adapted to hold the brick from engaging the marking devices when inserted in the pocket diagonally and arranged to be released and depressed by the brick when it is entered horizontallyin such pocket portion, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

6. In a brick-marking machine, the combination, with the guide-rollers and the inking devices arranged as shown, of the rock-shaft O, the frames D, loosely mounted thereon,the frames E, fixedly connected to the shaft 0, and the locking-frames F F, said frames D arranged, when moved, to unlock the frames E and F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In a brick-marking device, substantially be brought in the same plane by the insettion of a brick between the fixed guides and said rollers, substantially asand for the purpose. described.-

JOHN E. ENNIS. \Vitnesses:

FRED G. DIETERIOH, SoLoN O. -KEMON.' 

